Cork covered spindle



2, 1934- H. E. COLLINS CORK COVERED SPINDLE Filed April 27, 1933 Patented Jan. 2, 1934 UNITE-D *STA TES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

a wood or steel head with a plain cylindrical sur-.

face without grooves over which was cemented a seamless cork sleeve. Experience has taught that with this type of construction no protection was afforded for the exposed edges of the cork covering, and the latterfrequently chipped'ofl and made an imperfect spindle.

In an attempt to overcome this difliculty, various methods and-constructions were resorted to, among which may be mentioned the construction of the head in two pieces with flanged ends, and in assembling, the cork sleeve was placed on one half or section of the head and the other half or section of the head was then inserted. This method resulted frequently in the destruction of the cork sleeve and the finished article lacked the essential uniform and evenly compacted flnished surface of the head. Another method resorted to was in pressing flange washers onto the opposite ends of the head after the cork sleeve was in place. This-increased the necessary steps in'manufacture and the cost of production in addition to the disadvantages in assembling the cork sleeve on the head and the effect in the finished article.

An object of the present invention is to provide a construction which overcomes all of the above disadvantages and to provide an improved method I of manufacture which is not only economical but which preserves the unfiormity of the cork sleeve.

The above and various other objects and advantages of this invention will be brought out in the following detail description of the method employed and the article produced, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a sheet cork blank ready for application to the spindle head.

Figure 2 is an edge view of the same.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of the improved spindle head prior to receiving the cork covering.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the head with the cork facing partially applied thereto.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the head having the cork facing secured in place thereon.

Figure 6 is an axial section taken through the same, showing in section a pressure means in position to retain the facing in place until set.

Figure '7 is a like view with the pressure means removed.

Figure 8 is a similar view showing the facing in finished condition and flush with the. end flanges of the head, and

Figure 9 is a side elevation of a complete winder spindle with the cork covered head applied thereto.

With reference now to the drawing, Figure 9 shows the complete article wherein the spindle has a shaft or stem portion 15 provided with the usual gripping or tension device 16 and which carries on its lower end the head 1'7 with endflanges 18 enclosing therebetweena cork surface sheet or facing 19. As shown in Figure 8, the head 17 is in one piece and may be constructed of wood, metal or other suitable material which has a peripheral recess or depression extending entirely about its outercylindrical surface providing the end flanges or shoulders 18 adapted to bear against and protect the opposite edge portions of the surface sheet 19 of cork or other suitable material employed.

The integral structure of the head 17 with its one piece flanges 18 as a part of the head provides a strong and durable structure which may be accurately machined and which may receive be tween the flanges 18 the sheet of cork or other material without distortion of the sheet and with-I out injury to the edge or body portions thereof during application of thesheet to the grooved or depressed surface portion of the head.

In constructing this improved spindle, the method employed according to the present invention is to first construct the head 17, as shown in Figure 3, and which is made in one piece of suitable material and given substantially a spool shape but with the depression or recess in the peripheral surface of the spool of a depth equal only substantially that of the thickness of the surface sheet of cork 19 to be applied.

The one piece head 17 is thus provided with the end flanges 18 determining the depth or thickness of the cork sheet in the finished article, and the head 17 is provided with a suitable axial opening for the reception of the shaft portion 15 of the spindle as shown in Figure 9.

A sheet or strip of cork material 19, such as shown in Figures 1 and 2, is cut to the desired width, equal substantially to the distance between the flanges 18, and is provided with beveled or diagonally cut opposite ends 20 adapted to meet, as shown in Figure 5, in the application of the cork sheet to the head. The length of the cork sheet 19 is suitably proportioned so as to bring the diagonally cut edges 20 into suitable contact when the facing is fitted about the head 17 and brought together under suitable pressure.

The sheet of cork so cut is now applied to the head 1'7, as shown in Figure 4, with the opposite edge portions of the sheet fitting snugly between the flanges 18 and with the free ends of the sheet brought together into proximity preparatory to the final fitting of the surface sheet into the recess of the head. The cork sheet 19 is now firmly pressed into the recess of the head, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, and for this step any suitable compressing means 21 may be employed for uniformly engaging about the outer surface of the cork sheet 19 and forcing the latter under desired pressure into the recess of the head 17.

During this compression of the cork sheet into the recess of the head, the diagonally cut ends 20 are brought together into intimate contact and cement or the like may be used not only between the edges 20 but also between the recessed surface of the head 1'7 and the cork sheet 19. The sheet 19 is maintained under pressure in this condition for a desired length of time to insure proper setting when the pressure means 21 is removed so as to leave the article in the form shown in Figure 7. The outer surface of the cork sheet 19 is now suitably treated to reduce the cork sheet to the desired thickness and so that its outer surface will lie flush with the integral flanges 18 of the head 17, as shown in Figures 8 and 9. This is the finished state of the article and it is found that the opposite edge portions of the surface sheet of cork are protected from crumbling or chipping not only during the steps in the manufacture ormaking of the spindle but also during the use of the spindle so that the surface will be maintained in proper condition for a relatively long period oftime. It will also be noted that during the method of manufacturing the spindle, the head 1'7 with its flanges 18 may comprise but one step in the method so that it will be unnecessary to subsequently apply the flanges 18 to the head after the surface of the cork has been applied as has heretofore been done.

There is thus eliminated considerable steps and saving of time in the manufacture and furthermore the cork sheet 19 is not subjected to undue expansion or unequal drawing or distortion during its application to the head. Furthermore, the

sheet of cork is not subjected to crushing or undue compression at any point throughout its length during the application of the surface to the spindle head.

The only compression required during the manufacture of the spindle is in holding the surface sheet to shape about the head while the cement is setting, and such pressure may be properly regulated so as to be uniform entirely throughout the length and width of the cork sheet.

By use of this method and construction, the finished article is provided with a cork surfacing which is of uniform density throughout and which has not been weakened or impaired by either undue compression or stretching and which is amply supported and protected at its opposite edges by the flanges 18 of the head incident to the fitting of the sheet during its application to the head between the flanges.

It is thus seen that a spindle is produced wherein when the cork surface becomes worn, the cork surface may be readily removed and replaced by a new one an indefinite number of times until the spindle is completely worn out.

What is claimed is:

1. A cork covered winder spindle comprising a shaft, a head on one end of the shaft having a peripheral depressed surface portion and integral flanges at opposite ends thereof, and a cork sheet fitted in the depressed surface portion of the head 106 between said flanges and having its free ends brought together to provide a continuous and uninterrupted surface portion of cork at the exterior of said head.

2. A cork covered winder spindle, having a one piece head provided with end flanges and a depressed surface portion extending between the flanges and about the head, and a surfacing strip of cork fitted between said flanges and in the de- 7 pressed surface portion of the head and having 115 its outer surface substantially flush with the outer edges of said flanges.

3. A cork covered winder spindle, having a onepiece head annularly recessed intermediate its ends to provide a depressed surface portion and 120 end flanges at the opposite ends thereof, and a layer of cork fitted between said flanges and on said depressed surface portion to provide a cork surface extending about the head.

HENRY E. COLLINS. 

